TOLLEFSON, M. A.
TOLLEFSON, LOVESTRUM, GUBRANDSON, HOLLING, DONHOWE, SVENQUIST, BENSON, HANSON, JOHNSON
Posted By: Gordon Felland (email)
Date: 9/11/2012 at 11:19:07
M. A. Tollefson, who is engaged in general farming and dairying, his home being on section 26, Newburg township, Mitchell county, was born on the 15th of April, 1871, on the old family homestead a mile north of St. Ansgar, his parents being T. M. and Aase (Gubrandson) Tollefson.
The father was born in Hallingdal, Norway, in 1841 and came to the new world with his parents, Mickel and Gulde Tollefson, who established their home in Rock county, Wisconsin, where they resided until 1853. They then came to Iowa with a colony that made the trip in company with Rev. Clauson and settled on a farm north of St. Ansgar, where they spent their remaining days. Mickel Tollefson devoted his time and energies to the occupation of farming until his life's labors were ended in death in 1913 when he had reached the age of seventy-six years. In his family were seven children, as follows: T. M., A. M., who has passed away; Mrs. Benson, living in Mitchell county; Guri, now Mrs. Johnson, of Northwood, Iowa; Anne, living in St. Ansgar; Levi, the wife of A. T. Tollefson; and Mrs. Andrena Hanson, also of Northwood.
T. M. Tollefson was but a young lad when his parents left Norway and was only twelve years of age when he accompanied them to Iowa. He was educated in the common schools and afterward took up the profession of teaching, which he followed for several years in the country schools. He then turned his attention to general agricultural pursuits and was one of the valued and representative farmers of St. Ansgar township, owning a tract of good land which he brought under a high state of cultivation. He was also a charter member of the Cooperative Creamery Company and was its president for many years. He was likewise a stockholder of the first Cooperative Lumber & Grain Company and in his business affairs he displayed sound judgment and unremitting enterprise, while his persistency of purpose enabled him to overcome all difficulties and obstacles in his path and work his way steadily upward to success. He belonged to the Norwegian Lutheran church, in the work of which he took an active and helpful part. He served as one of its deacons, as its treasurer and also as leader of its choir. He was likewise a director and the treasurer of the school district for many years and he served as supervisor of St. Ansgar township for several terms, proving a most capable official in the prompt and faithful manner in which he discharged his duties. He voted with the republican party, ever having firm belief in its principles. He was an earnest worker in the support of all plans and measures for the good of the community and cooperated in many ways in advancing the material, intellectual, social and moral progress of the district in which he lived. In the year 1866 he wedded Miss Aase Gubrandson, a native of Rock county, Wisconsin, and they became the parents of seven children: J. M., who is living in Albert Lea, Minnesota; G. B., who is a farmer of North Dakota; M. A. of this review; Jennie, the wife of C. J. Holling, of Minneapolis; H. N., whose home is in St. Paul; Tilly, the wife of H. Donhowe, of Story City, Iowa; and Lauritz, who has departed this life.
M. A. Tollefson was educated in the common schools and in St. Ansgar Seminary, thus being well trained for life's practical and responsible duties. He worked with his father upon the home farm until he had attained his majority and in 1892 he began clerking which pursuit he followed in stores in .St. Ansgar and in Osage. He started out independently as a farmer in 1897 and continued to rent land until 1907, when he purchased his present farm in Newburg township, comprising one hundred acres of rich and productive land. He has improved his place with a fine country residence, in fact it is the finest home in this section of Iowa, and there is no equipment of the model farm lacking upon his place, which presents a most neat and attractive appearance and gives every evidence of the care and supervision which he bestows upon it. In addition to cultivating the grains best adapted to soil and climate he is also successfully engaged in dairying and he is a charter member of the Cooperative Creamery Company, of which he has been secretary for the past six years. He is also a stockholder of the Cooperative Lumber & Grain Company and is thus actively identified with the business interests of his part of the state.
On the 15th of June, 1897, Mr. Tollefson was united in marriage to Miss Ida Lovestrum, a native of St. Ansgar and a daughter of Gustaf Lovestrum, who was born in Efra, Sweden, on the 16th of February, 1836, and passed away June 23, 1897. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Anne C. Svenquist, is still living and makes her home in St. Ansgar. Mrs. Tollefson was the eldest daughter in a family of seven children and by her marriage she has become the mother of three children: Matilda A. and Loraine E., both deceased; and Clifford M. who was born July 15, 1901, and is yet with his parents.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Tollefson are consistent members of the Norwegian Lutheran church and he is identified with the Knights of Pythias and the Woodmen of the World. In politics he is a republican and while he keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day has never been a politician in the sense of office seeking. However, his fellow townsmen, recognizing his ability, have called him to public office and for the past fourteen years he has served as assessor. He was also a school director in St. Ansgar township and there is no element of public life or progress with which he is not familiar. He keeps in touch with the trend of modern thought and development and lends his aid and influence to every measure which he deems of benefit to the community. His entire life has been passed in Mitchell county, so that he has for forty-seven years been a witness of its growth and development, and since attaining manhood he has done his full share in promoting the work of upbuilding and improvement.
Source: History of Mitchell and Worth Counties, Iowa, 1918, Vol. II, pages 436-440.
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Photo of M.A. Tollefson and Family.
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